Humidity and temperature regulator



Sept. 22, 1925. 1,554,784

w. H. CARRIER HUMIDITY AND TEMPERATURE REGULATOR m l/ M r g1 )Z g/ i J ol -o j [nUerzZfm Zfz'gzesses:

sept. z2, 1925. .1,554,784 l H. ARR|ER BT31113111 REMEERATQRE B QGULATORZz'Zz-vesses.' l [72.0622202@ y W M MM5 www@ Patented Sept. 22, 1925.A

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIS H. CARRIER, O'F BUFFALO, NEW iYORK, ASSIGNOR TO BUFFALO FORGECOM- PANY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK. i

HUMIDITY AND TEMPERATURE REGULATOR.

Application filed August 6, 1908. Serial No. 447,240.

To all 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that l. Trams H. CARRIER. a citizen of the llnited States,residing at Buffalo. in the county of Erie and State of New York, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Humidity and TemperatureRegulators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic regulating devices for controllingthe humidity and temperature of air in textile mills and other placeswhere definite conditions of humidity are essential orv desirable.

The primary object of the invention is to produce an eicient andpractical instrument in which the pressure of the vapor generated by avolatile liquid is made use of for controlling the humidity of the air.and which will work equally well without adjustment in variabletemperatures. Other objects of the invention are to provide theinstrument with means whereby, if desired. the temperature of the air aswell as its humidity can be regulated: also to make the instrumentadjustable for obtaining the different desired hygrometric. conditionsof the air: and also to improve regulating instruments of the charactermentioned in the respects hereinafter described and set forth in thcclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of three sheets:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a humidity and temperature regulatingdevice embodying the invention. the cover for the support being removed.

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan thereof.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation thereofv` the cover for the support beingremoved.

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of a modification.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of humidity controlling means governed bythe regulating device.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the several figures.

Two slightly different forms of the instrument embodying the inventionare herein shown and described which are adapted to produce differentregulating effects.

Referring first tothe instrument shown` in Figs. 1 3, A and B representtwo generator tubes, or receptacles. each partly filled with somesuitable volatile liquid whose vapor pressure varies readily in responseto -such manner that unless the pressures of the motors on' the lleveror changes of temperature. Sulfur dioxide is preferably used as it hasan ideal pressure temperature relation for controlling humidity atvariable temperatures. As the generator tubes are only partially filledwith the liquid, each has an evaporating and a condensing surface, sothat any change in temperature affecting thel tube will produce animmediate corresponding change in the vapor pressure in the tube. Thetubes can. it desired. be

corrugated or ribbed for enlarging their radiating surfaces to increasethe rapidity of heat exchange and render them more sensitive. v

Means are provided for enveloping one of the generator tubes withevaporating moisture so the temperature of this tube always correspondsto that of the wet bulb thermometer and is lower than the temperature ofthe other tube B. which causes differential pressures in the vaporgenerated in the two tubes. In the construction shown. the tube A iscovered by a. wick C which dips into a well c to which water is suppliedfor wetting the wick by an inverted receptacle c whose discharge openingdepends into the well so as to maintain the water at a constant leveltherein in a well known manner. Any other suitable means for causing thetemperature of the generator tube A to correspond`to that of the wetbulb thermometer could be employed.

D and E represent two diaphragms or motors of any suitable constructionwhich are connected by pipes or passages d and e. respectively. with thegenerating tubes A and B, so that the diaphragms or motors will besubject to the differential pressures of the vapor generated in thetubes A and B to which they are connected. The motors D and E arearranged to operate in opposition to each other on a lever or device indifferential device bear a predetermined relation, the

lever or device will be moved in one` or another direction, dependingupon whether the ratio of pressures increases or decreases. The lever ordevice controls means for regulating the humidity of air. andadjustingmeans are preferably provided for changing the ratio of thepressures of the motors on the lever or device for producing differentregulatingvelfects.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1-3,

the movable .parts of the motors D and E bear against oppositesides of alever F at different distances from its fulcrum, and a` fulcrum block ffor the lever is employed which is slidably mounted on a stationarySupportin bar f belowthe lever and is provided Wit a set screw f2 forsecuring it 1n different positions on the bar.

A weighted lever G is connected to the regulating lever tocounterbalance the weight thereof.y

The regulating lever F can be employed for controlling the humiditythrough the instrumentality of any apparatus or devices capable ofperforming the required results. For instance, the lever actuates avalve H of ordinary construction in a pipe it for admitting compressedair to and releasing it from the operating diaphragm or motor Il. of avalve, damper or other. controlling device 71.2 of a humidifying or humidity regulating apparatus, see Fig. 5. As

shown in this figure, the valve h2 controls the supply of humidilied airthrough a. pipe h3 to a room h4, thus regulating thev humidity in theroom.

The invention is not concernedwith the construction of the humidifyingor humidity controlling apparatus and various other means for thispurpose controlled by the' regulating lever F can be employed.

The vapor pressures in the motors D and E correspond respectively to thewet and dry bulb temperatures of the atmosphere, and it has been foundthat these pressures bear an almost exactly constant ratio for a givenpercentage of humidity for all temperaturesr'between 50O and 100 Ffsothatv a desired percentage of humidity can be secured by adjusting thefulcrum block f to give the necessary ratio between the pres, suresv ofthe motors D and E acting on the lever, and no' adjustment is require-dfor variations in temperature between 50" and 100. The lever F ispreferably graduated and provided with characters indicating differentpercentages of humidity, and to obtain any desired percentage ofhumidity withinv the range of the instrument it is only necessary to setthe fulcrum block opposite to the mark on the lever indicating thispercentage. No other adjustment of the instrument is required.` y

I represents a thermostat with which the -instrument is preferablyequipped forj controlling the temperature ef the air in cold weather. Itconsists of a diaphragm or motor i connected by a Lpipe or passage '11to the.- generator tube B and operated by the vapor pressure producedtherein, a sprmg 2 which opposes the pressure of the motor I, and avalve 3 which is actuated by the motor and controls the How ofcompressed air to and from means (not shown) for governing thetemperature. 4 .is an adjusting screw by which the tension of the springi2 can be changed for maintaining a desired temperature. The instrumentcan be provided with a thermostat or not, as desired, and a thermostatof any suitable construction operated by the vapor pressure can bc used.

K and L represent .ordinary wet and dry bulb thermometers not aspreferred.

The several operative parts `o theinstru- `which may be used or ment inthe construction shown are mountto -turn in rearv of a slot n. in thebase plate M. The plate is provided along one edge of the slot with ascale 11. indicating dry bulb temperatures and the surface of thecylinder is provided opposite to a hole n2 in the base plate 'M withfiguresl n3 representing different percentages of humidity, and alsowith scales n* indicating wet bulb temperatures, which are so arrangedthat when the cylinder is turned to expose the ligure representing adesired percentage of humidity,- thel wet bulb scale exposed through theslot n read in connection with the adjacent dry bulb scale n willindicate the proper relation of the wet and dry bulb temperatures forthat percentage of humidity. A mechanical hygrometric chart is thusprovided which is desirable in connection with the regulatinginstrument, but the in- `vention is not restricted to the described theair notwithstanding fluctuations in thc-` temperature thereof.

In Fig. 4 the instrument is constructed so that the vapor pressuresproduced by the wet and dry bulb temperatures act in direct oppositionon the regulating device, thereby adapting the instrument to maintain aconstant difference between the wet and dry bulb temperatures, whichgives' a varying relative humidity with fluctuations in temperature. Insaid Fig. 4, A represents the vapor generating tube surrounded by thewetted wick C; B the other generating tube, and D and E the diaphragmsor motors connected respectively to the generating tubes A and B. Themotors act in opposition on a regulating disk or device F which slidesin a slotted stationary tube f3 and has a threaded engagement with anadjusting screw f* which has a threaded engagement of opposite pitchwith a second disk f5 also arranged to slide in the slotted tube Hrepresents the valve for governing the flow of compressed air to andfrom the humidity controlling means (not shown).

A spring O arranged in the slotted tube f3 opposes the movement of theregulating disk F by the motor E, and the tension of this spring can bealtered to obtain various constant differences between the wet and drybulb temperatures by adjusting the screw fz So long as the pressure ofthe motor E balances that of the other motor D and spring O, theposition of the valve H -will not be affected, but unbalanced pressuresacting on the regulating device F will effeet a regulating action ofthervalve so as -to maintain the desired constant difference between thewet and dry bulb temperatures of the air.

It will be apparent from the two forms of the instrument described thatthe invention is not restricted to any particular construction of themeans for utilizing the differential pressures produced by the vaporgenerated from separate bodies of volatile liquid separately influencedby different temperatures. In both embodiments of the inventiondescribed, the regulation is'dependent upon the relation existingbetween the wet and dry bulb temperatures of the atmosphere and eachconstruction is more particularly intended lfor producing the definiteefl'ect stated, but different regulating effects can be obtained bysecuring a proper relative action between the different pressures of thevapor, and furthermore, the invention is not restricted to devices whoseaction is dependent upon the wet and dry bulb temperatures of theatmosphere, butI it is applicable to regulating devices in which thevapor generators are independently influenced-by different temperatureshowever produced.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a humidity regulator, the combination with a humidity supplysystem, and a valve operable to control the action of said system: of arocking lever for effecting the operation of the valve, andthermo-responsive elements independently influenced by ditl'erenttemperatures, and connected to the lever at points unequally separatedlengthwise of the lever from the pivotal axis of said lever, themovement of the lever being dependent upon the relation existing betweensaid ditl'erent temperatures, substantially as set forth.

2. In a humidity regulator, the combination with a humidity supplysystem, and a valve operable to control the action of said tion with ahumidity supply system, and a valve operable vto control the action ofsaid system; of a rocking lever for effecting the operation of thevalve; thermo-responsive elements independently influenced by differenttemperatures and connected to the lever at points unequally separatedlengthwise of the lever from the pivotal axis of said lever, themovement of the lever being dependent upon the relation existing betweensaid different temperatures, and means for adjusting said pivotal axislengthwise of the lever, substantially as setforth.

4. In a humidity regulator, the combination with a humidity supplysystem, and a valve operable to control the action of said system: of arocking lever for effecting the operation of the valve. vapor generatorsindependently influenced by the wet and dry bulb temperatures of theair. and acting in opposition upon the lever at points unequallyseparated lengthwise ofthe lever from the pivotal axis of said lever,the movement of the lever being dependent upon the relation existinglbetween said wet and dry bulb temperatures. and means for adjustingsaid pivotal axis lengthwise of the lever, substantially as set forth.

5. In a humidity regulator, the combination with a humidity supplysystem, and a valve operable to control-the action of said system; of arocking lever for effecting the operation of .the valve. vaporgenerators, partly filled with sulphur dioxide, and independentlyinfluenced by the wet and dry bulb temperatures of the air, thegenerators acting in opposition upon the lever at points unequallyseparated lengthwise of the lever from the pivotal axis of said lever,and the movement ofthe lever being dependent upon the relation existingbetween said wet and dry bulb temperatures, and means for adjusting saidpivotal axis lengthwise of the lever. substantially as set forth. 4

6. In a humidity regulator, the combination with a humidity supplysystem, and a valve operable to control the action of said system; of arocking lever for effecting the dependent upon the relation existingbetweensaid different temperatures, and means for adjusting `saidpivotal axis lengthwise of the graduations on the leverfsubstantially asset forth.

T. In a humidity regulator, the combination with a humidity supplysystem, and

a valve operable to control the action of said system;"of a rockinglever rigidly conneted to the valve :for effecting the operation of thevalve, and vapor generators independently influenced by the Wet and drybulb temperatures of the air and' yieldingly acting in opposition uponthe lever at points unequally separated lengthwise of the levell fromthe pivotal axis of said lever, the movement of the lever beingdependent upon the relation existing between said wet and dry bulbtemperatures, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand, 4th this day of August, 1908.

WILLIS H. CARRIER.

